Does quantum mechanics provide a counterexample to the law of causality?
In this video, I consider the claim that quantum field theories show particles can come into existence randomly without cause, and that this is a counterexample to the law of causality.
NOTES
Objections to Law of Causality from Quantum Mechanics
- Problem 1: nothing is there to cause virtual particles to appear
- These particles are coming out of a vacuum
- A vacuum is nothing
- So, there is no cause
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- O1: quantum vacuum isn't nothing
- O2: physical laws aren't nothing
- O3: mathematical equations can't pick up causation
- Problem 2: the particles appear randomly
- O1: A cause can cause something indeterminately, so that's not a problem
- O2: hidden variable theory